Independent wheel suspension



Dec. 31 1935. G. BROULHIET 2,025,720

INDEPENDENT WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheep I Dec. 31, 1935. G. BROULHIET 2,025,720

INDEPEND ENT WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r' 'e 1 i w J k c if d Dec. 31, 1935. v B U H E'r I 2,025,720 INDEPENDENT WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 15,, 1932 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1935- G. BROULHIET INDEPENDENT WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 of said shock Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED ,STATES,

INDEPENDENT wnEEL SUSPENSION Georges Broulhiet, Paris, France Application 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a front axle which may be applied to motor vehicles of all kinds and more particularly to those in which the carriage frame offers great torsional strength.

The axle according to the present invention which constitutes the frame front cross girder, is particularly characterized in that it is provided at both ends with upward directed extensions upon which a system comprising a sleeve,'the wheel steering swivel and its corresponding wheel, slides and is pivoted.

The chief characteristic of this invention consists in that a double oil shock absorber is placed inside both upward extensions in order to damp the movements of the movable system, the piston absorber being connected to the sliding sleeve.

A-device capable of. insuring a damping effect proportionate Y to the rate of the movement of the piston may be added to the above system.

Another feature of this invention consists in that the axle is bent at both ends in a horizontal plane, so as to allow of mounting the suspension spring in the vertical plane of the axis of the extension which is thus displaced relatively to the middle or the axle.

.Another .feature consists in that the sliding sleeve is provided at its upper part with a ball abutment collar connected with the suspension spring by means of long slanting shackles suitably shaped to allow the passage-of the steering device.

Another object of my invention relates to. a particular mode of construction of the device designed to annihilate the phenomena of cavitation which would tend to take place through the shocks acting upon the shock absorber.

To this end one of the ends of the cylindrical shock absorber is movable the change of volume resulting from the movements of the plunger rod being compensated by the displacement of said movable end. The latter is also acted upon by a strong spring thus creating in the liquid an inner pressure which is higher than the high est working pressure. This spring is automatically armed by the abutment of the movable end at the end of the stroke every time that the quantity of liquid contained in the cylinder becomes insufilcient.

Lastly means are provided to insure the filling of the cylinder with liquid so that the apparatus works surely and regularly.

The appended drawings show by way of-examples, two forms ofexecution 9i levsatiae carriage frame 2 by meansof metal fittings 3 is sion spring 4 in the plane passing through said August'15,1332, Serial No. 628,916 In France August 28, 1931 in thecase of its application to the front axle of a motor vehicle.

In these drawings:

Figs. 1 to 3 show, a first form of construction and Fig. 4 shows the second form of execution. 5 Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a plan view and adiagrammatical elevation of my improved axle device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the wheel system swinging and. sliding upon the upward extension of the axle at the end of the downward stroke.

- Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, drawn on a larger scale in a plane passing through the pivotal axis of one of the steering wheels, showing the arrangement of a modification of the shock absorber in its middle position.

In the form or construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the-axle -l which is strongly secured to the provided near its ends with symmetrical bent portions I having upward extensions I displacedto the back of the middle plane of the axle, in such a manner as to allow-of placing the suspenextensions. K

A sleeve 5 integral with the steering swivelqi of wheel 1 is engaged upon each extension I. This sleeve is capable of rotating and sliding upon the lower part of the extension by means of a ring shaped bearing 8, provided with a circular recess to receive'a grease proof India rubber ring designed to insurethe water tightness of the pivotal connection. The sleeve 5 carries also a sleeve "I, which may swing and slide upon the upper part of the upward extension more exactly upon several rows of balls i I the cage of which is drawn by the rolling of the balls upon said extension at a speed which is half that of the sliding movement.

The sleeves 5, l0 areboth provided with shoulders 5 ill respectively and they are assembled by means of bolts. The upper sleeve it is surrounded by a ball collar i2 connected with the suspension spring 6 by means of long shackles I3 pivoted around an axis it carried uponsaid collar. The spring 4, the shackles t3, the upward extensions l and the collars I? are located in the same plane transversely to the axis of .thecarriage frame behind the middle plane of the axle. The shackles l3 are made narrower in the middle at l3, that is to say that at that point their cheeks are tightlyput in juxtaposition in the manner shown in Fig. l or else constitute a upon the top of the upward extension I constitutes a cylinder I9 having a larger section than that of piston IT. The latter comprises an inner chamber 20 which may communicate with the cylinder I9 by means of a free ball valve 2I and of passages 22. The chamber 20 is put in communication on the other part with the inner -cy-- lindrical bore 23 in the upward extension which forms an annularspace 23 surrounding the piston, by means of two orifices 24, 25 into each of which opens an inclined groove 24*, 25 formed upon the outer surface of the piston. A smooth portion which engages in an airtight manner a guiding shoulder a of part I8 when the piston is at the end of ts downward stroke, is formed above the groove 24. The piston is provided under the groove 25 with another smooth portion followed by a shoulder II Channels 26 which may put in communication the annular chamber 23 with the lower part of the oil cylinder 23 by means of a free b 11 valve 21 are provided in the shoulder Il closed at the bottom by means of a screw plug 28.

The parts being inthe position shown in Fig. 3, it will easily be seen'that on the piston actuated by the corresponding wheel starting again its upward stroke the valves 21 will close, the oil contained in the space 2 3 will flow on the one part through-the orifices 24, 25in the room 20 and, on the other part through the groove 24. in the cylinder I9, then through orifice 25 and valve 2I in room 20 only; the oil will then flow from the space 23 through groove 25*- in the cylinder I9 and the braking of the movement will increase as the groove gets narrower. Finally when the end point B of groove 25 will have reached the shoulder I8 (that is occupies the place of point A in Fig. 3) the stroke will be stopped. During the complete stroke the valve 2I on its part will have allowed the communication to be made between I 9 and 20.

Point B having thus reached the point A, when the movable system moves downwards, the valve 2I will close, the valves 21 open and the annular space 23 the volume of which gradually increases will fill with oil, oil being also driven in cylinder I9 through orifice 24. When the latter has come opposite the shoulder I8 the braking eifect begins and the stroke is stopped when the point A of the piston is in the as the exhaust in the direction of cylinder I9 will no longer take place.

It will be seen that the above device produces the damping at both ends of the stroke. When running the shoulder Ill never engages the shoulder I (Fig. 3) neither does the shoulder Ill engage the ball abutment I I.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the general arrangement is the same except that in this case the sleeve I0 which lies inthe same axis as sleeve 5 is shown as being secured upon it by means of a screwed portion I6. A concentric; ring I! connected with the suspension spring 4 by means of long shackles I3 pivoted upon pins I 4 formed in e oilcylinder is hermetically position shown in Fig. 3.

one with said ring I I, is inserted between the sleeves 5 and I0. This ring I1 is centered upon the sleeve I0 by means of balls I8 through which it transmits part of the vehicle weight to sleeve 5, steering swivel 6 and wheel I.

It will be noted that owing to the slanting position of the shackle I3 relatively to the upward extension I the side component of the reactions acting upon the sleeves transferred upon the balls II;

5 and III is mostly the stress is thus almost completely removed from the ring bearing 8. It will be evident that the ball. cage II could be replaced by a smooth bearing fixed at the top of the upright extension I".

The upper sleeve I0 is closed by means of a cap I5 screwed upon it and is integral with a rod I9 carrying the ring 20 which forms the damping piston. This ring 20 moves in a cylindrical part 2I-22 bored in the extension I, it is secured upon the rod I9 by means of a part 23.

provided with a screw threaded portion 24.

The ring 20 is provided with one or more cylindrical recesses 25 which allow the communication between both sides of the piston through a callbrated hole 26, which may be closed by a ball 21. The balls 21 are retained in the recesses 25 by means of a fiange provided in part 23. When the ball 21 uncovers the hole 26, both sides of the piston 20 communicate together through this calibrated hole 26.

A piston valve 28 provided with calibrated holes 29 is carried upon the'part 23 and moves in a recess 30 in rod I9, it is seated in the part 23 by means of a spring 3| placed in rod I9. Both sides of the piston 29 communicate through holes 32 having a large diameter when the piston-valve 28 is raised from its seat.

The calibrated holes 29 in the piston valve 28 have the same diameter but the space between them increases as they near the open end 28 oftimes by the piston valve holes 29 is proportionate ,to the square root of the liquid pressure, so that finally the braking effect upon the liquid passing through the holes 29 is proportionate to the speed of piston 20, this being the theoretical condition of the critical damping of the piston periodical movement. v

A cylindrical portion 33 concentricto the cylindrical portion 2I-22 is bored in the upper part of the upward extension I.

The cylinder movable end is constituted by a plastic ring 34 clamped around a sleeve 35 by means of a washer 36, said sleeve 35 being centered upon a socket 31 carrying a ring 38 which is maintained in position against the sleeve 35. by means of a nut 39.

The plunger rod I9 has a slightly frictional sliding movement in the socket 31. i The ring 38 is provided with one or several recesses 40 which contain a bail 4I designed to close an orifice 42'. The ball or balls M are retained in the recess or recesses 40 by the 'upper surface of nut 39.

Both surfaces of the movable cylinder end 38 may be put in communication through the recesses 40, the orifice 42, the annular space 43 in ring 38, the cylindrical space 44 between Socket 3! and sleeve 35 and the large diameter openings 45 in sleeve 35 A'spiral spring 46, concentric to the rod I9 presses strongly upon the washer 36, taking its bearing point upon a cap 41 screwed in the upper part of the extension H When in an inoperative position, under the action of spring 46, the ring 38 engages the shoulder 48 at the intersection of the cylindrical portions 22, 23 bored in the extension I (positic-n not represented). v

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the cylindrical portions 2|, 22(33 filled with liquid, oil for example, up to the level 49-50, the

- mode of operation is as follows:

When the carriage wheel I meets an obstruction and receives a shock, the suspension spring 4 bends and the sleeve l slides upwards upon the upward extension I.

The rod I9 is drawn in the way shown by the arrow the liquid pressure in part 22 of the cylinder rises above'that in part 2|. The ball 2'! uncovers the calibrated hole 26 and the liquid flows from 22 to 2| thus braking the movement of piston 20 and consequently damping the shock upon the wheel '8.

The orifice section remaining constant the delaying stress whicln acts upon the piston 20 is proportionate the square of the moving speed in the directi of arrow 5| thus producing a quick and emcient damping.

The action of spring 46 upon the movable cylinder cover 34 produces an inner pressure, it being devised in such a manner that this inner pressure is stronger than the strongest working pressure.

Consequently the cylinder part 2| will always be kept filled owing to the charge bearing upon the liquid in part 22.

The movement of rod IS in the direction shown by the arrow 5| is interrupted by the reaction of the suspension spring 4 and by the damping effeet as above described.

The obstruction that produced the movement having been removed the spring 4 will tend to return the wheel 1 in its first position and the rod I9 will then move in the direction shown by the arrow 52. The liquid pressure in part 2| will then become higher than that in part 22 and the balls 27 will close the orifices 28.

Under the action of the varying pressure the piston valve 28 presses upon the spring 3| and uncoversone or more calibrated holes 29; the liquid then flows in'the cylinder from part 2| to part 22 thus producing a braking of the movement of piston 20 and consequently a damping of the return movement of wheel 7.

Through its compression the spring 3| measures the pressure difference between the cylinder parts 2|, 22 and as above explained, the delaying effect upon the piston 20 is proportionate to the moving speed in the direction of the arrow 52 thus producing a critical damping which changes the per odical movement due to the elasticity 'of the suspension springs 4 into an aperiodic movement, the movement will thus be caused to stop in the first quarter of the oscillating stroke whatever the amplitude of the displacement may be relatively to. the position of equilibrium.

It must be noted that when the rod l9 moves in the direction shown by the arrow 5 l, the movable cylinder end 34 moves in the opposite direction in order to compensate for the volume created by the rodlH, both movements being in inverted ratio to the sections. The same thing happens when the rod l9 moves in the direction shown by the arrow 52. During these movements the socket 3? slides upon the rod l9 and the level of the liquid falls or rises in the cap 41.

In the above description of the mode of working it has been supposed that the spring 46 was compressed and that the ring 38 was at a suflicient distance from the flange 48. Supposing now that the ring 38 is resting upon the shoulder 48 5 either at the time of the first assembling or after a long period of rest.

0n the first shock received by the carriage wheel I. the rod l9 moves in the direction of the arrow 5|; the inner volume of the cylinder decreases owing to the return of the rod l9 and consequently the pressure in the cylinder part 22 falls under atmospheric pressure acting through the orifices 53'. The ring 38 abutting againstthe shoulder 48, the movable cover cannot compensate for this change of pressure by its displacement as in the case ofnormal working. The balls 4| then uncover the orifices 42 opening 42 and the movable cylinder end 34 rises compressing the spring '46 which is thusarmed. This automatic arming of the spring due to the abutting of the movable cylinder end at the end of its stroke takes place every time that the quantity of liquid in the cylinder parts 2|, 2230 becomes insufilcient.

The accidental liquid losses are periodically compensated by injecting liquid for example through the plug 54 and tlfe bore 55 in rod 99. g

A lower ball valve 56 normally closedby a screw plug 5'! serves for the'first filling of the apparatus.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and-modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A front axle assembly for vehicles having steering wheels with independent relative moveturns upon said upward extension, a cagewith floating balls provided between said upward extensions and sleeves, the balls projecting from each side of the cage wall and incontact on one side with said sleeve and on the other side with said upward extension, so that the cage moves at 60 half-speed of the relative movements of the sleeve and the upward extension, a rotatable collar mounted upon said sleeve, a transverse spring afllxed at the center of said front cross-beam, long oblique side members connecting each end of said transverse spring to the said rotatable collar, the front axle being fbent in a horizontal plane at each of its ends so that the side members and the transverse spring are in the vertical plane passing through said upward extensions, 2; A telescopic suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising a frame having an axle, the end portion of said axle being bent rear-- wardly of its body portion, and forming a substantially vertical guiding support, a wheel carfree end of said spring to the adjoining wheel carrying member, allowing angular movements of said wheel carrying member about the axis of its pivotal support, with respect to said spring.

about the axis of 3. A telescopic suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising a frame having an axle, the end portion of said axle being bent rearwardly of its body portion, and forming a substantially vertical guiding support, a wheel carrying member including an upwardly directed steering pivotal member mounted in telescopic relation to said support, and a wheel spindle outwardly extending from the lower portion thereof, a transversely directed leaf spring secured to the central portion of said frame behind the-body portion of said axle, and means connecting the free end of said-spring to the adjoining 'wheel carrying member, allowing angusaid wheel carrying member its pivotal support, with respect to said spring, and also allowing relative vertical displacements of one of said elements with respect to the other.'

lar movements of 4. A telescopic suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising a frame having an axle, the end portion of said axle being bent rearwardly of its body portion, and forming a substantially vertical guiding support, a wheel carrying member including an upwardly directed steering pivotal member mounted in telescopic relation-to said support, and a wheel spindle outwardly extending from the lower portion thereof, a transversely directed leaf spring secured to the central portion of said frame behind the body portion of said axle, and means connecting the free end of saidspring to the adjoining wheel carrying member, allowing angular movements of said wheel carrying member about the axis of its pivotal support, with respect to said spring and also allowing relative vertical displacements of said guiding support and wheel carrying ,mem-- her with respect to one another.

5. A telescopic suspensionfor the front wheels 5 of motor vehicles, comprising a frame having an axle, the end portionof said axle being bent rearwardly of its body portion, and forming a substantially vertical guiding support, a wheel carrying member including an upwardly directed 10 steering pivotal member mounted in telescopic relation to said support, and'a wheel spindle outwardly extending from the lower; portion thereof,

a transversely directed leaf spring secured to the central portion of said frame behind the body 15,

portion of said axle, a member mounted for vertical movement with said steering pivotal member and capable of turning movement with respect thereto, and an inwardly directed link member connecting said last member to the ad- 20 joining free end of said spring.

6. A telescopic suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising a frame having an axle, the end portion of said axle beingbent rearwardly of its body portion, and forming a 25 substantially vertical guiding support, a wheel carrying member including an upwardly directed steering pivotal member mounted in telescopic relation to said support, and a wheel spindle outwardly extending from the lower portion thereof, 30

a transversely directed'leaf spring secured to the central portion of said frame behind the body portion of said axle, a member-mounted for vertical movement with said steering pivotal member and capable of turning movement with re- 30 spect thereto, and an inwardly directed link member connecting said last member to the adjoining free end of said spring, said link member being articulatedly connected to said pivotal connectingmember and said spring, so as to allow relative vertical displacements of said guiding support and wheel carrying member with respect to one another.

GEORGES BROULHIET. 45 

